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The History of Dr. John Ball Waring
By: John Ball Waring,
great grandson
Early Years
Dr. John Ball Waring was
born in Charleston, South Carolina
January 20, 1829, the son of Francis
Malbone Waring, a Charleston cotton
factor and Lydia Jane Ball. Young John
spent his early years residing in
Charleston, SC with his parents, his
brother, Francis Malbone Waring, and his
sister Ann Simons Waring.
John’s father died in
1837 and his mother died in 1841 leaving
the children under the guardianship of
Ann Simons Ball Deas (aunt), Keating
Simons Ball (uncle), and John Coming
Ball (uncle). The children lived with
Ann Simons Ball Deas (guardian) and her
husband, Dr. Elias Horry Deas at Buck
Hall Plantation.
Pre-War Years
John’s brother Francis
Malbone Waring died at of age 14 on
September 23, 1850. John’s sister Ann
Simons Waring married Lewis Simons in
1851 and resided on Pawley’s Plantation
owned by the Simons family and adjacent
tract to Buck Hall. John studied under
Dr. Horry Deas at the Medical College of
South Carolina. His thesis was titled A
Dissertation on Hermaphrodism. He
graduated in 1849. On March 4, 1851 he
married Elizabeth Cecelia Harleston,
daughter of John Harleston and Elizabeth
Cordes. This marriage would produce
three sons and a daughter. County
property records show Dr. John Ball
Waring owned much land on the Cooper
River near Strawberry and a house on
Charlotte Street in Charleston, SC. He
apparently spent much time before the
war as a planter.
War Years
With the sectional
hostilities finally reaching a boiling
point with the election of Abraham
Lincoln to the Presidency of the United
States, South Carolina passed the
Ordinance of Secession on December 20,
1860. During the dark of night sometime
before December 26, 1860 Major Robert
Anderson spiked the guns at Fort
Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island where the
Federals were stationed and relocated
his troops to Fort Sumter, an island
fort in Charleston Harbor. The following
April of 1861 attention was turned to
Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor where
the first shots of the war were fired.
Lincoln could now engineer patriotism in
the North by accusing the secessionists
of treason. Lincoln could now raise an
army calling for 175,000 troops to quash
the rebellion. Lincoln also ordered a
blockade of the southern ports to stop
the import of goods from Europe. Many
thought this war would be short but as
it turned out the war was a four year
bloodbath resulting in the death of
approximately 636,000 soldiers. As a
result of the war many lives would be
changed. Many soldiers on both sides
were killed or maimed. Dr. John Ball
Waring enlisted in Confederate service
on July 1, 1862, Charleston, SC, serving
first in the Etiwan Rangers commanded by
Capt Keating Simons. This volunteer
unit. stationed at Hayward’s Landing on
James Island was absorbed by the 1st
Charleston Battalion. PVT John Ball
Waring became a member of Co E
Charleston Battalion (Calhoun Guards)
Commanded by Capt. Francis Turquand
Miles. The Charleston Battalion as a
whole was commanded by Col Peter C.
Gaillard under General Taliferro.
Company E was present at
the Battle of Secessionville; This
Company was on Morris Island at Battery
Wagner during intense shelling from
Union gunboats. (Note: Company E was
not involved in famous attack by the
54th Mass Colored Troops July 18, 1863.)
All companies in the Charleston
Battalion were involved except Company
E. Company E was doing Heavy Ordinance
at White Point Gardens (later renamed
Battery Ramsey) in the City at the time
of the 54th Massachusetts
attack on Battery Wagner. Company E was
deployed at Morris Island for its first
tour of duty on the last day of July
1863. From August 17 to September 2,
1863 the first great bombardment of Fort
Sumter, This was a constant close range
bombardment of Sumter. The Union goal
was to reduce the fort to rubble. Union
General Quincy Adams Gilmore had by
mid-August advanced heavy batteries near
Wagner so that an effective fire could
be made on Fort Sumter by throwing
shells over the battery. Battery Wagner
and Gregg were shelled day and night.
The month of August was coming to a
close and with the Union troops moving
closer to Fort Wagner General Beauregard
ordered Fort Wagner’s evacuation.
After the evacuation of Fort Wagner
the First Charleston Battalion was
merged with other Battalions and
Companies to become the South Carolina
27th. The 27th SC was sent
from Charleston to Virginia April 28,
1864 and arrived at Petersburg, VA May
7, 1864. Private John Ball Waring was
captured at the Bermuda Hundred. (A
peninsula formed by the James and
Appomattox River) at Petersburg.
The Confederate Muster
Roll for PVT John Ball Waring states the
following:
In the hands of the enemy
Captured near Petersburg June 24, 1864
Surrendered at Point
Lookout. Turned over to Provost Marshal
at Fort Monroe, VA June 25, 1864.
Confined June 26, 1864 Mil Prison, Point
Lookout, Md. Paroled at Point Lookout,
Md., and transferred to Aiken's Landing,
Va. September 18, 1864 for exchange.
"Received at Varina, Va. Sept. 22, 1864
from James E. Mulford & Asst. Agt. for
Exchange, ten hundred & eighty (1080)
Confederate paroled prisoners of war on
within roster including 64 Officers, 6
Surgeons, 3 Chaplains & 3 Citizens. W.H.
Hatch Asst Agent of Exchange. (Taken
from roll no. 150 Fort Delaware, Del."
Sept. 24, 1864. Appears on Register of
Receiving and Wayside Hospital or
General Hospital No. 9 Richmond, Va.
Sept. 22, 1864. Appears on Register of
Jackson Hospital, Richmond, Va. Sept.
23 thru 25, 1864. Remarks for 30 days.
Disease and Diagnosis illegible.
Sometime after Sept. 22, 1864 he
returned to Charleston, S.C. (No further
date or Muster Rolls.)
Post War
Dr. Waring came back to
Charleston weakened but not broken.
Through family stories it was said that
he looked forward to starting his life
over. He was now home with his wife,
sons and a newborn daughter. He looked
forward to the challenges of rebuilding
his fortunes. Sadly his wishes never
materialized. Dr. John Ball Waring died
of Smallpox, Nov. 18, 1865. Family
tradition says he contracted the disease
while treating a freed slave at
Strawberry Ferry. The death certificate
from the attending physician Dr. E.
Geddings stated Variola as the cause of
death which is the Latin term for
Smallpox. His widow and children lived
in Charleston, SC in poverty under
Carpetbag rule. This federal abuse on
the conquered citizens of the South
lasted for twelve long years.
Dr. John Ball Waring and
Elizabeth Cecelia Harleston had the
following children:
Francis Keating Waring
Edward Harleston Warin
John Ball Waring
Ann Simons Waring
Sources:
Confederate Muster Rolls
- Charleston County Library.
Letter from the SC
Archives to Lt Col Francis Malbone
Waring stating Service record of Pvt
John Ball Waring.
Charlestonians in War:
The Charleston Battalion by W. Chris
Phelps
Dark Hours: Randolph W.
Kirkland, Jr.
Fort Sumter to Perryville
Shelby Foote
Lincoln Takes Command:
John S Tilley
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